New to the boards and new to car audio

[VooDOoIS]

I want to upgrade from my stock audio in my IS300 to something with better sound quality. I am not looking for something that is going to blow the doors off but I do want to get the best value towards sound quality I can get. As for a budget it is about 1000 to 1500 which it looks like I will have to increase it some judging from the post I have read.

Current System

Stock Double Din Radio

6-1/2 Door Speakers

6-1/2 Rear Deck Speakers

What I have already ordered

Phoenix Gold RSD65CS

Second Skin Damplifier Pro 36.5 sq feet (would like to cover Doors, trunk and floor board)

Question I have

What type of amp and why?

What type of wire and How important is quality wires?

Do I need a sub and what type? If I do, do I still need the rear deck speakers

Is there anything I am missing?

I am reading the Car Audio Terms defined and Helpful Car Audio Sites post it is just a lot to process at once.

Click to read more...

 

[AVX Mike 10+ year member]

I recomend finding a quality shop in your area and talking to them about your goals and budget. Lexus's are a car you really don't want to mess around with yourself if you don't have any experience or knowledge of what you are getting into. They will also be able to audition a couple different speakers for you. Be prepared for them to be a little ticked if you go in and waste their time demoing a bunch of stuff to you so you can buy it online. And if you try it yourself after being told you probably aren't qualified to do it, mess something up and then want them to fix it...be prepared to be humble about it. Working with a shop from the start has many advantages to buying online....a real warranty (many online sites promise them and dont' or can't deliver in the end), service (buy online and see how your service is when you have a question or problem), expertise and experience (most of the online sites just move boxes they don't know or care much about your application. As long as it will fit in your car, it is the right product to them)

I know a lot of you will come on here now and bash shops and call us crooks for selling at what a company tells us to. You would rather buy from a transhipper with no warranty and pray you don't have problems. And when you do after the advice of other clueless internet buddies steer you wrong enough times you call a shop to expect free advice on your grey market equipment....that's your choice and your life. Shops are in business to make money. We don't move 2000+ boxes of equipment daily at pennies on the dollar to make money. We rely on selling at Manufacture Suggested Retail Pricing!!!! We also make money on installs so installers can pay their bills and make a living. Car audio is a business....people own businesses to make money....that's the point. Now remember that I said a quality shop!!! I know as well as anyone else that there are plenty of bad shops out there.

This is just my two cents on this matter. Sorry if I came across a little harsh but I get tired of the shop bashing that goes on here. Some shops are bad shops should be avoided many shops are full of knowledgeable employees looking out for your best interest in the long run.

 

[crash9201 10+ year member]

x2; from what i have heard luxury cars(IE lexus benz beamer) have a very strange electrical system. your best bet is a good shop; look in the car audio shop feedback forums here or whatever its called; their will be alot of posts from people saying its a good bad or descent shop;

 

[VooDOoIS]

Thank you